embellish the charms of virtue by the graces of elegance; thinking, perhaps, with Virgil,

Gratior et pulchro veniens in corpore virtus:
Virtue more pleafing in a pleafing form.

Dr. Johnfon always fuppofed that Mr. Richardfon had Mr. Nelfon in his thoughts, when he delineated the character of Sir Charles Grandifon.

The following Letters of this very exemplary perfon to a friend of his, will fhew what, early fentiments of wisdom and of virtue he enter tained.

"Dear and Honoured Sir,

"As foon as I came to town, which was "about ten days ago, I made a strict enquiry concerning your welfare, which I counted myself not a little concerned in, by reafon your many favours and obligations, befides the juft value of your perfon, have engaged. "me to a particular refpect and efteem for "yourself,

I

"yourself, so that inyown happiness will be much "increased by any addition to your fatisfaction. "I was foon informed of the alteration of your "condition, and that you had made the grand "experiment of human life, which feldom "admits of any mean, but carries us to the "utmost boundaries of happiness or misery; "and being well fatisfied that your great prudence would fecure the former of the "two extremes-for nullum numen abeft, fi fit "prudentia-I thought it no ways disagreeable "to congratulate your prefent enjoyment; nay,

66

friendship and affection obliged me to express my just resentment, and be affured that the news of your great felicity under your pre"fent circumstances finds a welcome reception "from no one more than from myself, the only "reafon that forbids my regret for your ab"fence here in town. I heartily with those "ideas and notions you framed of matrimony may be exceeded in the poffeffion, that pro

priety and enjoyment may whetten the edge of your affections, and that no part of your "happiness may leave you now it ceases to "be imaginary; and though Thales, who was "a wife man, would feem to infinuate as if "marriage was never convenient for the wife; -yet, as Alex. ab Alex. obferves well," licèt "hác ambage verbor. fapienti nunquam uxorem

"ducendam

ducendam demonftraret, veruntamen qui hæc propenfo judicio explorare vult, profectò in conjugiis multa inveniet commoda ufui vitæ necef"faria, fine quibus vix homini fapienti cœlibem "vitam ducere expediat, &c. Nay, all nations "have honoured thofe that are married, and

punished celibacy. Even the Utopians, that "feem to have the most refined and abstracted "notions of things, would have those that "lived fingle punished, as useless in a Common"wealth. The creation of the world would "be to little purpose without it, for humano generi immortalitatem tribuit; and therefore

66

}

indignè vivit per quem o vivit et alter: nay, "it is the opinion of fome, that it is impoffible "to be faved without it. It would be endless "to profecute all the arguments, and enu"merate all the authorities in its behalf; though "I am fenfible there has a great deal been "faid on the other fide: however, if it con"fifted with my intereft and conveniency, "and the object gratified my inclinations, "it is not the rant and fatire of a Poet, or "the declamation of an Orator, that should prevail fo far as to make me fufpend the "execution of that for which my motives were fo fpecious and plaufible: but for all my zeal I am fill mei juris free as ever, "and have yet no profpect of being otherwaies;

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"and

and fhall alwayes pray, that all the advan tages of your condition may center in your "match; that you may be long happy in the "embraces of an excellent wife, bleffed with "a profperous offspring, which may inherit

your virtues as well as eftate, and then all "other inconveniences may be well dispensed "with. As to news, what we now most talk of, is the prorogation of the Parliament till "the 11th of Nov. with a provifo, that the

re

King may call them fooner if he pleases. "It is their petitioning has enraged him, and "he fwears by God they may knock out his 86 brains, but fhall never cut off his head. "For all this, they fay they will still go on "in getting fubfcriptions; the consequence I "am afraid may be bad. I cannot enlarge, "because Mrs. Firmin fends for my letter, and fays it will be too late, if it does not go prefently. My humble fervice to your Lady, "Mr. Dent, and my Lady Brograve, and all "the good company, and be affured that I

am

"Your obliged humble servant,

"ROBERT NELSON."

"All your devout friends are much your

fervants.

" My

"My mother presents her humble fervice to

you and your Lady.

"To my worthy friend the much

"honoured Dr. MAPLETOFT, att

"Hamwelby, in Hartfordshire."

LETTER II.

MR. ROBERT NELSON TO DR. MAPLETOFT.

"Worthy Sir,

"London, 2d January 1679.

"I AM very fenfible that the true ground " and reason of moft of the disappointments many men meet with in the grand tranfac"tions of their lives, proceeds not foe much "from the nature of things themselves, as "from thofe extravagant conceptions they form " of them; and that the chiefeft ingredient "of their unhappiness, is the falfe opinion they "have entertained of fublunary enjoyments, whereby their expectations are raised to fo high a pitch, that as 'tis not in the capacity "of things to gratify, so they were never "defigned for that purpose; which gave oc"cafion to that noble faying of Epictetus, « homines perturbantur non rebus, fed iis quas de " rebus

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